Collapsible cabinet



July 2,1940.

DERMAN COLLAPSIBLE CABINET Filed Dec. 5, 193a ATTORNEY Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED. STATES PATENT? OFF-ICE comarsmw CABINET Harry Del-man, Laurelton, 14m: Island, N. Y. Application December 3, 1938, Serial No. 243,821

12 Claims. (01. 312-144) This invention relates to cabinets of the knockdown or collapsible type and consists primarily of v four principal parts, namely a front door frame part, a top part, a bottom part, and a back and side wall part, which parts are adapted to be collapsed one flatly upon the other in the compact packing and shipment thereof; and the object of the invention is 'to provide a cabinet of the character described wherein the front or" door frame part has outwardly bulged frame members at least two of which are grooved on opposed surfaces to form guide channels in which independent door members are slidably mounted to provide doors which are movable to oppositesides of the cabinet in the operation of opening the same and brought into abutting relationship to each other when in closed position; a further object being to provide means constituting parts of thedoor frame for guiding the free sides of flexible door members onto the side walls of the cabinet and to provide shields preventing said doors from contacting any of the garments suspended in the cabinet as well as to conceal and protect said doors; a further object being to pro- 2c vide means for retaining the shields in close proximity to the inner surfaces of the side walls of the cabinet so as to form substantially V-shaped pockets for the reception of the doors at the inner surfaces of said side walls; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a cabinet of. the class and for the purpose specifled, which is simple in construction, eilicient in use, andwhich is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the'following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet made according to my invention showing the doors in an open position.

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-4 at of Fig. 1.

Fig. 31s a vertical sectional view through the cabinet as seen in Fig. 1, with parts ofthe'construction broken away.

Fig. 4 is aplan view of one corner portion of a m cabinet showing the top wall or cover removed;

and, r r I r Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view substahtiallyonthelinet-iofFigJ.

The cabinet shown in the accompanying draw- V ing'to illustrate one method of carrying the invention into effect comprises four unit parts consisting of a front wall and door frame part III, a back and side wall part II, a top wall part I2, and a bottom wall part I3. In the packing and shipment of'the cabinet, these parts are l detached one with respect to the other, and the part II has its back walls lIa' and' side walls IIb collapsed one upon the other and arranged upon the inner surface of the part III, while the top and bottom parts I2 and I3 are disposed upon the 19 folded or collapsed part II, thus forming a relatively thin elongated package of the complete cabinet. r

The part III consists of a frame composed of vertical side rails I4, joined by outwardly curved top and bottom rails I5, I6, and an intermediate rail l1. The rails II are grooved as seen at a, note Fig. 2 to receive the forward edges of the side walls III) of the part II, whereas the inner corners of these rails intermediate the curved frame pieces I5, and H, are beveled as seen at I8, which-bevels register with grooves I5a, 1,;

formed on the lower and upper surfaces respectivelyof the rails or strips i5, i1. These grooves form guide channels for the upper and lower 25 (Y when they abut centrally of the front of the cabinet in the closed position of said door, thus providing a. tight closure for the cabinet. A small pin or nail 23 is arranged centrally of the a grooves I5, H to form stops limiting the opening movement of each door, and other pins 24 are provided on the,rails I5, ll, to engage the strips 2I, 22 to limit the opening movement of each door. 5 Between the curved rails I6, I1, is secured a corrugated bottom closure 25 which seats [in grooves'on the opposed surfaces of the rails as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This closure is also preferably composed of the singlefaced corrugated board to correspond with the; arrangement of the corrugations in the door members. In other words, the corrugations are arranged vertically in both instances, thus providing for the free curved flexure thereof. It 56 will, of course, be apparent that sliding doors similar to the doors I9, 20, may be used as a sub-- stitut'e for the closure 25, if it be desired to gain access to the bottom of the cabinet from the exterior thereof rather than through the door opening controlled by the doors I9, 20.

In the present structure, however, the simplerform of the device is illustrated, and in this construction supplemental verticalreinforcing and guide rails 26 are arranged between the curved rails I5, l'l,'adjacent the rails l4 and in spaced relation to the latter so as to provide between the rails 26, I4, spaces through whichthe doors I9, are free to pass. Supported upon the rails 26 are guard or shield strips 21 preferably composed of flbre board and foldable as indicated at .28, note Fig. 4 of the drawing, so that the shields 27 may be collapsed upon the inner surface of the unit part I 0, in the packing and shipment of the knock-down cabinet and also extendedlnto the position shown in Fig.2 to form chambers 29 upon the inner surfaces of the side walls lib of the cabinet adjacent the front portion thereof for the reception ofthe free ends of the doors [9 and 20, when the latter are moved into open position. v

Supported upon the top of the "side walls lib of the cabinet is a hanger unit 30 which consists of a complete assemblage comprising a hanger rod 3| attached to end links 32, the latter being pivotally supported as at 33 in connection with U-shaped shoes 34 which fit over the upper edges of the walls llb and also over the upper edge of the shields 21 so as to. retain said shields in juxtaposition to the walls llb as clearly indicated in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawing. The unit 30' also includes a perforated tube 35 containing suitable insecticide material suitable to protect apparel arranged in the wardrobe against attack by moths.

It will be understood that the shields 21 are of greater length and width than that part of the doors I9, 20., arranged therewithin when the latter are in open position and that these shields in addition to forming the chamber 29 in con- Junction with the walls lib also render the doors invisible at the interior of the cabinet and further prevent any garments arranged in the cabinet from contacting the doors to interfere with I, the free movement thereof. Each door or the reinforcing rails 2|, 22,: thereof, are provided with suitable hand grips in the form of recesses 36 in the outer surfacesthereof tofacilitate grasping the doorsin moving the same into open and closed position. i

- The top and bottom. curved rails I 5, Hi, are recessed on upper and lower sln'faces thereof respectively as at l5b, lia; as are also the upper andlower ends of the side rails ll of the frame.

to receive the forward'edge portions l2a,- l3a,'of

the top and bottom parts l2, '3, so as to lie flush therewith producing a neat and finished appearance. It will be understood thatthe edges l2a, a, are cut out to conform wlthvthe contour of the strips l5, l6, as is clearly illustrated, for example in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing, where the relationship of the parts l2, I5, is shown.

.The top part l2is formed from a'sheet of fibre board and has at the back andsides down-- wardly turned flanges l2b to whichare. secured at the outer surfaces thereof reinforcing .wood strips 31 for reinforcing the upper edges of the back and side walls. Corresponding strips 31a are'arranged on corresponding flanges Nb of the ia bottom part l3. The bottom part l3 also preferably is provided at the comer portions thereof can be made within the scope of the appended claims. It will be understood that a closet of the type and kind hereinshown and-described in addition to providing greater amount of room for the storage chamber within the cabinet also provides a much more sturdy cabinet by reason of the arched construction of the door frame and in addition to these accomplishments, it will appear that a cabinet of more attractive appear- 'ance is provided than is commonly found in. e the conventional rectangular box.

It will be understood that the upper and lower ends of the rails 2| and 22 have projecting tongues slidably engaging the grooves i5o, "a, of the rails l5,' IT, to aid in guiding the doors in their sliding movement. It will also be apparent that the door frame unit III will be adapted for use in connection with cabinet structures of various kinds and classes; and furthermore my invention is not limited to the specific means hereindisclosed for guiding and shield'mg the inner ends of the doors.

It will, of course,.be apparent that by making either one of the doors I9, 20, wider and by eliminating the stop pins 23 and one pair of the pins 24, a single door may be used in -forming the closure, in which event only one of the shields 21 will be employed and the same will be made sufiiciently wide to compensate for the added width of the door. In fact, it is also within the spirit of the invention to employ two closures,

but only one of which is movable in controlling the door opening. It will also be apparent that the particular shape or contour of the transverse outwardly bulged members I5, l6 and I1, may

e class described comprising and side walls, the front of the cabinet being. open, outwardly bulged transverse frame members at the front of the cabinet,

cabinet, said two members having on opposed surfaces door guiding channels paralleling the v outer bulged surfaces of said members, a flexible door closure extending between and slidably engaging the channels of said members and controlling said door opening, said closure being two of said members being spaced apart to form therebetween a door opening at the front of the,

adapted to extend beyond theends of said channels into the cabinetin the open position thereof, and means inwardly of one end of said channels limiting opening movement of said closure whereby a sufficient portion thereof will remain in said channels to maintain said closure in proper alinement betweensaid members.

2. A cabinet ofthe class described comprising top, bottom, back andside walls, the front of the cabinet-being open, outwardly bulged transverse r 2,200,847 frame members attirefront of the cabinet, two' ible door closure extending between and slidably engaging the channels of said members and controlling said door opening, said closure bein adapted to extend beyond the ends of said channels into the cabinet in the open position thereof, means inwardly of one end of said channels limiting opening movement of said closure whereby a suficient portion thereof will remain in said channels to maintain said closure in proper alinement between said members, means limiting closing movement of said closure, and means within the cabinet for guiding the, closure in the. movement thereof into open position in a manner to support the end thereof protruding from said -channels substantially flat against inner surfaces of the adjoining side wall 'of the cabinet, said guiding means concealing the protruding end of said closure.

3. A collapsible cabinet of the class described comprising detachably and collapsibly related unit parts, one comprising a door frame, another back and side walls, a top wall part, and a bottom wall part, said door frame part comprising vertical side rails joined by outwardly bowed top, bottom and intermediate transverse rails, opposed surfaces of the top and intermediate rails having longitudinal grooves, supplemental vertical rails arranged inwardly of the first named side rails and coupled with said top and intermediate rails, said supplemental rails being spaced from the-side rails in registering alinement with the grooves in said top. and intermediate rails to provide passages therebetween extending into the cabinet adjacent the side walls thereof, flexible doors composed of single-faced corrugated board having reinforcedouter ends arrangedbetween the top and intermediate rails and slid able in the grooves thereof and controlling the opening formed between said top and interme-. diate rails, means at the sides of the cabinet for guiding and shielding the inner ends of said doors in the movement of said doors into open position, said last named means comprising vertically arranged shield plates hingedly supported on the supplemental rails, and means retaining the upper inner comer portions of said shield plates against movement relatively to the side walls of the cabinet.

4. A collapsible cabinet of the class described comprising ,detachably and collapsibly related unit. parts, one comprising a door frame, another back and side walls, a top wall part, and a bot-' tom wall part, said door frame part comprising vertical 'side rails joined by outwardly bowed top;

bottom and intermediate transverse rails, opposed surfaces of the top and intermediate rails having longitudinal'grooves, supplemental vertical rails arranged inwardly of the first named .side rails and coupled with said top and inter-- mediate rails, said supplemental rails being spaced from the side rails in registering alinement with the grooves in said top and intermediate rails to provide passages therebetween extending into the cabinet adjacent the side walls thereof, flexible doors composed of single-faced corrugated board having reinforced outer ends arranged between thetop and intermediate rails and slidable in the grooves thereof and controlling the opening formed between said top and intermediate rails, means at the sides of the cabinet for guiding and shielding the inner ends of said doors in the movement of said doors into open position, said last named means comprising vertically arranged shield plates hingedly supported on the supplemental rails, means retaining the upper inner corner portionsof said,

shield plates against movement relatively to the side walls of the cabinet, said last named means comprising a garment hanging unit consisting of U-shapcd shoes fitting over the upper edges of the side walls and joined by a rod pivotally cou-' pled with said shoes.

5. A- cabinet of the class described comprising top, bottom, back and side walls, the front of the cabinet having a large door opening giving access to theinterior of the cabinet, spaced outwardly bowed rails at the front of the cabinet, flexible, doors arranged between and siidably engaging said spaced outwardly bowed rails to -form, when the doors are in closed position, an

outwardly bowed'door closure, adjacent outer edges of the door having longitudinal reinforcing strips abutting and intermeshing centrally of the cabinet when the doors are in closed position, means coupled with said bowed rails and independent of the side walls of .the cabinet forming with said-side walls door receiving pockets at the side portions of the cabinet into which the inner ends of the doors are free to pass in the movement of the doors into open position,

and said means forming shields concealing thev inner ends of the doors and guarding the same against engagement with articles supported in the cabinet.

6. A cabinet of the class described comprising top, bottom, back and side walls, the front of the cabinet having a large door opening giving accessto the interior of the cabinet, spaced outwardly bowed rails at the'front of the cabinet,

flexible doors arranged between and slidably engaging said spaced outwardly bowed rails to form, when the doors are in closed position, an outwardly bowed door closure, adjacent outer edges of the doors having longitudinal reinforcing strips abutting and intermeshing centrally of the cabinet when the doors are in closed posi tion, means coupled with said bowed rails and independent of the side walls of the cabinet forming with said side walls door receiving pockets at the side portions of the cabinet into which the inner ends of the doors are free to pass in the movement of the doors into'open' position,

said means forming shields concealing the inner ends-of the doc and guarding the same against engagement wi articles supported in the cabin'et, opposedsurfaces. of said outwardly bowed rails being grooved to receive .the upper and lower edges of said doors in guiding the doors in the opening and closing thereof, said grooves, opening into said side pockets, and means limitand closed positions.

'7. Ina cabinet of the character described, a frontdoor frame unit comprising vertical side ing the movement of each of the doors into open rails, outwardly bowed top and bottom rails joining saidsiderails, an outwardly bowed intermediate rail joining said'side rails: supplemental vertical rails arranged inwardly of and'in' spaced relation to the side rails and extending between the top and intermediate rails, the lower surface of the top rail and the upper surface of; the intermediate rail having longitudinal grooves communicating' at their ends with the space between the side and supplemental rails, flexible doors arranged between-the top and intermediate rails and operating in the grooves thereof inthe movement thereof into open and closed positions,

, and means supported on the supplemental rails for guiding and shielding the inner end portions of the doors in the movement of said doors into open position.

8. In a cabinet of the character described, a

, front door frame unit comprising vertical side rails, outwardly bowed top and bottom rails joining saidside rails, an outwardly bowed intermediate rail joining said side rails, supplemental vertical rails arranged inwardly of and in spaced relation to the side rails and extending between the top and intermediate rails, the lower surface of the top rail and the upper surface of the intermediate rail having longitudinal grooves com- -municating at their ends with the space between open position, adjacent outer ends of thedloors' having longitudinal reinforcing strips slidably engaging the grooved rails, one of said reinforcing strips having a projecting tongueand the to' the interior ofthe cabinet, spaced outwardly other a groove to form a tight closure between the doors when in closed position,- and means cooperating with said reinforcing strips limiting the opening and closing movement of each door.

9; A knock-down cabinet of the class described comprising detachably and collapsibly related top bottom, back and sidewall parts and a front door frame unit, said unit comprising vertical side rails and transverse rails, said unit having a large door opening, the transverse rails being convexed outwardly and the forward edges of the top and bottom wall parts being correspondingly formed, a flexible closure for said door opening arranged and laterally movable in said unit and constitut-.

ing apart thereof, means extending longitudinally of and in'parallel relation to the convex outer surface of said transverse rails for guiding "said closure in the door frame; said closure being formed from singlet-faced corrugated board with the corrugations arranged vertically on the closure, and a permanent front closure at the lower portion of saidunit and comprising a single-faced corrugated sheet with thecorrugations arranged vertically thereon. v I

- 10. A cabinet of the classdescribed comprising top, bottom, back andside walls,"the front of the,

cabinet having-a large door opening giving access bowed rails at the front of the cabinet, flexible doors arranged between and slidably engaging said spaced outwardly bowed rails toform, when the doors are in closed position, an outwardly bowed door closure, adjacent outer edges ofthe door having longitudinal reenforcing strips abutting and intermeshing centrally of the cabinet when the doors arein closed position, movably supported means independent of and arranged adjacent the side wallsof the cabinet at opposed sides of the door openings, said means forming in conjunction with the side walls of the cabinet door receiving pockets into which the inner ends of the doors are free to pass in the movement of the doors into open position, and said pockets forming means concealing the inner ends of the doors and guarding the same against engagement with articles supported in the cabinet.

11. In a knock-down cabinet of -the class described having collapsibly related sideand end wall members, a door frame unit detachable with respect to said collapsibly related members, means forming a door opening in said unit, said means including vertically spaced transverse rails forming top and bottom boundaries of-said door opening, said rails being joined by transversely spaced vertical rails, the'lowe'r surface of the top rails and the upper surface of the bottom rail bounding said door opening having channels extending longitudinally thereof, transversely movable and independently operable door members arranged in and constituting part of said unit and slidably engaging said channels, ad-

jacent edges of said door members having vertical reenforcing strips, and means limiting the opening movement of said door members to maintain a substantial portion of the door members in said channels and to maintain saidstrips within said door opening.

12. In a knock-down cabinet ot the class described having collapsibly related side and end respect to said collapsibly related members, means forming a door opening-in said unit, said means including vertically spaced transverse rails forming top and bottom boundaries of said door posed end portions thereof, transversely slidable,

door members arranged in said channels and constituting apart of said unit, and portions of said door members in the open position thereof protruding be'yondsaid channel ends,

HARRY DERMAN.

,wall members, 'a door frame unit detachable with 

